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Posted on 01/15/2003 7:14:05 AM PST by dawn53
Philly trip not worth risk, Bucs fans say Eagles fans' reputation for being nasty to the opposition has Bucs fans staying home, hoping for a Super Bowl trip.
Eagle fans are notorious for being nasty to the opposition, referees, even their own cheerleaders.
By WES ALLISON, Times Staff Writer © St. Petersburg Times published January 15, 2003
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TAMPA -- Margaret Bowles is a diehard Bucs fan who has missed just one home game in 17 seasons. She makes many of the away games, too, and was at Veterans Stadium two years ago when Tampa Bay and the Philadelphia Eagles met in the playoffs.
It was not, she recalled, the City of Brotherly Love.
Two security guards stationed themselves behind Bowles and her friend, but their presence didn't deter Eagles fans from targeting her black-and-red Buccaneers parka. It was a long afternoon. And the Bucs lost.
"They were just in our face, they would jeer at us, and poke us, and tell us to go home," Bowles said Tuesday after half-heartedly searching the Internet for tickets to Sunday's NFC Championship game in Philadelphia. "I vowed I wasn't going to go again."
As hosts, Philadelphia sports fans have, well, outdone themselves. Years of fisticuffs and upturned beers and taunting -- even Santa Claus was bombed with snowballs during a halftime show -- have given them a well-deserved reputation for inhospitality and even violence toward rival fans.
Although the winner of Sunday's game goes to the Super Bowl, Philadelphia fans' boorish reputation is one reason few Bucs fans will trek there this weekend, tour operators and ticket brokers said.
"BucFanTours WILL NOT be doing a game package to Philadelphia. This is sad, but the potential for problems and client injury has our insurance agent lying awake at night!" reads the Web site for BucFanTours, which organized trips to almost every Buccaneers away game this season and already is taking orders for Super Bowl trips to San Diego.
"As much as we want to support our team, the Philadelphia fans just don't get it. It's just a game!!"
Dennis Pfeiffer, the owner of BucFanTours, said he tried to get a large block of tickets for Sunday's game -- "so maybe we'd be like Custer at Little Big Horn" -- but could only find them in twos and threes. He scrapped the trip.
"I just didn't feel comfortable putting two Bucs fans out in a section of Eagles fans," Pfeiffer said.
Clients who have traveled to the Vet for previous games reported being hassled constantly, he said. Plus, Sunday's game is the last for Veterans Stadium, which will be demolished. Pfeiffer feared the fans would be even rowdier than usual.
"These guys are going to have a screwdriver taped to their leg or a tire-iron, and when the game is over, they're going to want to take their seat with (them), because they've been sitting in it for 20 years," Pfeiffer said.
Pfeiffer's concern doesn't come from soaking up too much sun in Tampa. The fans' lash is legendary. They have thrown snowballs at opposing players, referees -- even their own cheerleaders. They once cheered when Dallas Cowboys receiver Michael Irvin suffered a serious neck injury. Fights in the stands are routine.
The Vet even has its own jail and magistrate's court, so arrested fans can be adjudicated without leaving the building. This Sunday, an extra 120 police officers will be posted inside the stadium.
"There's no question, it's 100 percent true," said Ryon Smith, owner of Ticket King of Florida, a Tampa firm that is not sponsoring a trip to Philadelphia, either. "I've been there before, and I wouldn't walk in there with team colors unless I was with half a football team. It's that bad.
"There's nothing wrong with a little good natured ribbing, but it's not even good natured up there. They want to fight and be nasty. Everybody's heard of them booing Santa Claus. Nobody's safe."
American Cruises and Charter of Tampa is offering a one-day, round-trip flight for the game for $389, but as of Tuesday interest was only fair.
"It's a good price, it's just getting our fans to have a little more confidence they'll be safe," said Kim King, who was taking reservations.
"They're not shying away, but they're very jokingly like, 'Do you carry life insurance policies?' "
Ticket brokers also cited other factors contributing to a light Tampa Bay contingent Sunday: Fans didn't know until Sunday afternoon the Bucs were even going, and airfare is expensive on short notice. Tours are tough to organize that quickly, too.
Most fans with the money and the inclination would rather to see if the Bucs make the Super Bowl in sunny San Diego. Then they'll go in droves, brokers said.
And while tickets to Sunday's game are available, they're expensive, typically starting at about $300. Bowles, 50, a Tampa lawyer, found them on eBay, the online auction house, starting at about $400 each, but she decided to keep her vow and avoid Philly.
"That's pretty pricey for a bad experience," she said.
And the next weekend, she's already booked on a flight to California
Saying, if you go, don't wear anything designating you as a Buc's fan.
But that seems ridiculous to me because it's pretty easy for the person sitting next to you or behind you to tell which team you're cheering for.
And how could you go to a playoff game and sit there and not cheer for your team.
It just seems pretty sad that people would be so rude to visitors to their city who are bringing "tourism" dollars into the area.
With the Pack out of the playoffs, I had cheered for the Steelers (without my glasses, their uniforms look a little bit like the old Green & Gold), but now I'm in a quandry. I detest Tampa, and even though former Packers asst. coach Andy Reid coaches the Eagles, because of that history with the fans, I can't cheer for them. I never liked Oakland, so I'm left with (WINCE) Tennessee.
I don't know what other cities are like .. But not a chance would I go to an Esgles games
The Local Talk radio guy Michael Smerconish was talking about this yesterday and a lot of people called in saying they wouldn't go to the game either for the same reason stated here ..
And yes I was born and raised in Philly
If Bucs fans are going to the game then expect Smack Talk. That's all the Bucs players do and their fans should expect it in return. I have seen games in MANY NFL Stadiums, and the only unprovoked fights, with opposing fans, I have ever seen were at the skins old stadium - RFK(I havn't been to the new one).
The 76'ers games are ok also .. But the Eagles .. I would stay away
As for Judge Seamus McCaffery who presides in "Vet Court" I think 80% of the troublemakers are not from the city, mostly from South Jersey and the Philly surburbs.
Believe it or not, many "differences of opinion" are started by rival fans, especially the New York Football Giants fans. Same with the Mets when the Phils play them.
The throwing snowballs at Santa was back in the days of Franklin Field, when the Eagles were especially lousy. But they did bomb Jimmy Johnson with snowballs and cheered when Irvin went down, which I though was disgusting. Then they had a fireworks or flare fight during a Monday night Niners game.
Yes the Vet is a dump and some of the more rabid fans are idiots, but remember when the Broncos fans were heaving batteries on the field or fights at the Meadowlands. I also heard that the Raiders fans are not much better, but the Eagles fans got the rap. Some of it is deserved and some is not.
The local news mentioned that last Saturday's game .. only 31 people were arrested
I believe they also booed his three year-old son that year at a Father/Son event.
Sad that the good-natured rivalry is out the window these days and that the morons rule the roost. One of the many reasons I rarely bother to attend professional sporting events any more.
If you want friendly fans, come to Cincinnati.
Both of the people in the stands are friendly and the Bengals are very accomidating to opponents.
On the other hand, I have never personally heard one Phillies fan express scorn for him. That was a great year & Williams pitched his heart out. I think the vast majority of fans understand that he was pitching on empty when Carter homered. When he returns for events such as card signings he's welcomed with open arms.
Williams & his teammates provided every bit that year as much entertainment as FR.
On the other hand it is best to watch the Eagles on TV & the same can be said for the Flyers.
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